Ahmedabad: MICA, in collaboration with filmmaker Aranya Sahay, writer-director of the award-winning feature Humans in the Loop, announces the MICA Creative Fellowship x Aranya Sahay, an initiative to support filmmakers from marginalized communities and help bring underrepresented stories to the screen.

The fellowship will select up to five filmmakers through an open call. Projects at the development, production or post-production stage are eligible to apply. Each selected filmmaker will receive an upfront project grant, participate in a week-long fellowship on MICA’s Ahmedabad campus, and gain access to MICA’s post-production facilities to continue working on their films.

Beyond financial assistance, the fellowship aims to create sustained access to the wider filmmaking ecosystem. Young filmmakers, especially those from marginalized backgrounds often face structural barriers to funding, industry networks and production resources. By bringing together financial support, professional exchange and access to infrastructure, the initiative seeks to help filmmakers develop and complete their projects while creating pathways for their work to reach wider audiences. 

During the week-long residency, fellows will engage with leading professionals from Indian and international cinema, alongside MICA faculty and students. The invited guests confirmed so far include: 

1. Kabir Khan — Acclaimed filmmaker known for Bajrangi Bhaijaan, 83 and New York, blending popular cinema with socially relevant storytelling. 

2. Nikkhil Advani — Director and producer behind Kal Ho Naa Ho, D-Day and Batla House, and co-founder of Emmay Entertainment. 

3. Vikramaditya Motwane — Award-winning filmmaker behind Udaan, Lootera, Trapped, Sacred Games Jubilee, known for his distinctive storytelling. 

4. Kiran Rao — Filmmaker and producer known for Dhobi Ghat and Laapataa Ladies, with a strong commitment to independent and socially conscious cinema. 

5. Prasad Shetty — Film producer and cultural entrepreneur specialising in Indo-Chinese cinema collaborations and international film distribution.

6. Anu Rangachar — International film programmer, producer and distributor, serving as the Berlinale’s South Asian delegate. 

7. Kyoko Dan — International film festival programmer with a focus on Asian Film Festivals. 

8. Gaurav Dhingra — Indian film producer and screenwriter associated with the internationally recognised independent thriller Stolen. 

9. Mathivanan Rajendran — BAFTA Breakthrough-recognised producer and media entrepreneur known for Nasir, Nirvana Inn and Humans in the Loop. 

10. Deepti DCunha — International film programmer and curator, formerly Artistic Director of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, specialising in South Asian independent cinema. Senior film programmer for Red Sea Film Festival 

11. Meenakshi Shedde — National Award-winning film critic, curator and international festival consultant, associated with the Berlinale, Cannes and Toronto film festivals 

12. Smriti Kiran — Film producer, creative strategist and former Artistic Director of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, known for championing emerging cinematic voices. 

13. Jasmine Jaisinghani — International film producer, programmer and curator, formerly associated with AFI FEST and the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. 

14. Namrata Joshi — National Award-winning film critic 

15. Harshit Bansal — Founder of Humans of Cinema, a platform championing meaningful storytelling, independent filmmaking and cinema-driven conversations.

 

Reflecting on the fellowship, MICA's Director and CEO Jaya Deoras Deshmukh said, “We are entering the Age of Imagination, where the power to shape the future lies in the stories we tell also in whose stories get to be told. India is a country of extraordinary diversity, yet many of its most compelling stories remain unheard because the people who carry them often lack access to resources, networks and opportunities. At MICA, we believe creativity must be accompanied by the opportunity to create. This Fellowship is a step towards making that possible. We want to nurture voices that challenge the familiar,bring fresh perspectives to the screen and expand our understanding of India and its people. Because the future of storytelling cannot be imagined by a few, it must be created by many.”

"Throughout my filmmaking journey, I’ve seen how the stories that make it to the big screen often emerge from a narrow range of social backgrounds, leaving a large section of India’s population underrepresented, both in the stories being told and in the people who get to tell them. This fellowship is our attempt to change that by addressing some of the key barriers young filmmakers, particularly those from marginalized communities, face in accessing funding, resources and distribution. It is an honour to be able to build this initiative with MICA", said Aranya Sahay. 

Professor and acclaimed filmmaker, Dr Darshan Ashwin Trivedi added,  "India’s true strength lies in its vibrant diversity, and this fellowship empowers subaltern filmmakers to tell their stories. As the world looks to India to lead the global orange economy, our goal is to nurture groundbreaking local 

ideas that resonate on an international stage. I am thrilled to embark on this ambitious journey with MICA, the only B-School campus to have a full-fledged studio." 

The fellowship reflects a shared commitment to widening access to filmmaking resources and professional networks, while creating space for stories and perspectives that remain underrepresented in cinema. 

Applications opened: 15th October 2026 

Applications closing date: 5th November 2026 

Expected start of fellowship: 25 November 2026

ENDS

About MICA 

Founded in 1991, MICA (formerly Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad) is India's premier institution dedicated to Strategic Marketing and Communications. Renowned for its interdisciplinary approach, MICA combines creativity, consumer understanding, strategy, technology and business to develop leaders for the marketing and communications industry. Through academic excellence, research and industry engagement, MICA continues to shape the future of marketing education. 

Note: MICA – The School of Ideas is India's premier institute for Strategic Marketing and Communications in Ahmedabad. MICA is no longer an Acronym.